Sunday opening limits may be relaxed to help struggling retailers

Sunday trading laws may be relaxed as part of a huge initiative aimed at helping the hard-pressed retail sector.

Up to half of retail regulations could be either 'removed or amended' in an announcement due to be made in the coming week by the Department for Business.

It comes as part of the Department's Red Tape Challenge internet initiative, which was set up to gather the views of small businesses.

Law: At present stores over 3,000sq ft can open just six hours on Sundays

The Government will this week announce
the steps it plans in response to the views posted about its first
'theme' - the retail sector. This was divided into eight areas,
ranging from consumer information and protection regulations to weights
and measures.

While there were fewer than 100
responses in five of the areas, there were 2,695 responses to the
section on Sunday trading laws. A Department source told Financial Mail
that 'substantial changes' to retail regulations were likely to be
introduced in the near future. This included Sunday trading laws.